President Alexander Lukashenko is in talks with Moscow about placing in Belarus advanced Iskander missiles that could hit targets deep inside Europe.
The talks raise the ante in the debate over a U.S. plan to deploy missile defense in Europe. They also complicate Western hopes for warmer ties with Belarus, which some in the U.S. and Europe hope could help to counterbalance an increasingly hostile Kremlin.In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Lukashenko said that he would like to see closer relations with the West but that he sympathizes with Russia on two flashpoints that have ...

Guido Westerwelle, former German foreign minister, dies at 54Politicians pay tribute to Germany’s first openly gay cabinet minister, who has died two years after leukaemia diagnosisGuido Westerwelle, the former German foreign minister, has died aged 54, almost two years after being diagnosed with leukaemia.Westerwelle served for four years as foreign minister and vice-chancellor in Angela Merkel’s government and was Germany’s first openly gay cabinet minister. Continue reading...

Who'd be an MP in Europe's 'last dictatorship'?Belarus has Europe’s poorest democratic credentials, but in elections this weekend, a new generation of candidates are talking quietly of changeIn a country nicknamed “Europe’s last dictatorship”, where no one knows the name of their local MP, let alone what they do all day, running for parliament is a curious undertaking.Belarus, where Europe’s longest-serving leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has ruled for 22 years, is to elect a new parliament on Sunday and 37-year-old Andrey Kozik is one of a self-proclaimed new generation of politicians hoping to gain a seat. Related: Belarus president shows how to win five elections – without even trying Continue reading...

Steven Seagal continues tour of post-Soviet leaders in name of world peaceActor and friend of Vladimir Putin met Kyrgyzstan president and opened World Nomad Games clad in medieval armour and on horsebackSome travel to see the sights, others travel to relax, but Steven Seagal has a bigger mission: world peace. Or so he says. The Hollywood actor, who in recent months has been given the red-carpet treatment by various post-Soviet leaders, said on a visit to Kyrgyzstan he wanted “to bring all people together, to live in harmony”. Related: Welcome to the World Nomad Games​: 'If Genghis Khan were alive, he’d be here' Continue reading...

​Belarusian president accidentally ​sparks international stripteaseNaked office selfies go viral after Alexander Lukashenko urges citizens to ‘get undressed and work till you sweat’You know that feeling when you’re trying to give an inspirational speech but everyone takes their clothes off? No? Well, the Belarusian president does.Alexander Lukashenko was talking about the importance of technology to the national economy when he urged citizens “to get undressed and work till you sweat”. #раздеватьсяиработать https://t.co/gQjKlzm6yu pic.twitter.com/YFbJmK7abu Continue reading...